Winery’s winter show to feature nationally recognized artists

TEMECULA – Next week, some of the top names in the art world will appear at Lorimar Winery for a group show featuring the best wine and art on display in the Temecula Valley. Headlining the group show are Murrieta’s Jami Tobey and Santa Fe’s Barbara Meikle, both of whom show in galleries worldwide. Also appearing at the event are local metal artist Eric Burnett and local photographers Robert Kaler and Heather Van Gaale.

The highly anticipated group show kicks off Saturday, Jan. 19, from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Gallery at Lorimar, 40225 Berenda Road in the Temecula Wine Country. Members of the public will get the chance to meet the artists during the show and purchase their work at a promotional rate.

The event will feature complimentary sparkling wine and appetizers.

When the winery opened last May, co-owner and gallery director Christy Lester envisioned a place that offered visitors not only good wine, but also great entertainment and world-class art. It didn’t take long for the winery to become the de facto place for socializing with friends, meeting artists and viewing art in a spectrum of styles. In fact, a recent show featuring the swirling paintings of local favorite Tobey drew nearly 200 people. The upcoming Jan. 19 show, with five artists on the bill, is expected to be even bigger.

“We are so proud of how far this winery has come in such a short period of time,” Lester said. “We expect this group show to exceed anything we’ve done in the past. This could be one of the biggest art events this town has seen in a long time.”

The group show features artist with a wide range of styles. Tobey’s acrylic paintings are noted for their resemblance to stained glass and reflect a fascination with the natural world. The event will also feature the unveiling of a new Lorimar wine label that celebrates Jami’s award-winning paintings. Meikle’s vibrant paintings focus on the countryside of the high desert and the burros and horses that inhabit it.

Burnett, who hails from Southwest County, is a self-taught artist who uses aluminum, copper, brass and stainless steel to create one-of-a-kind metal masterpieces. Kaler, who lives in Temecula, specializes in high dynamic range photography, which involves photographing a subject repeatedly from a tripod.

Over- and under-exposed shots are all combined for a bold image that is then transferred to metal. Van Gaale, who divides her time between Temecula and Los Angeles, is known for her sensual and soulful photography. From rich product images, offbeat weddings and compelling portraits, she retains a style that is uniquely her own.

Lorimar Winery, 40225 Berenda Road, is located in a Tuscan-style farmhouse in the Temecula wine country and is open seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., with later hours and live music on Fridays. A tasting room is also located in Old Town Temecula.

For more information, call (951) 694-6699 or go to

www.lorimarwinery.com.

Local photographer Heather Van Gaale will be featuring her work in the upcoming art show at Lorimar Winery on Jan. 19.

Jami Tobey of Murrieta will be headlining the art show at Lorimar Winery on Jan. 19. This piece is titled,